Introduction toIntroduction toIndian CountryIndian Country

Dr. Zoltan GrossmanDr. Zoltan GrossmanFaculty member in Geography & Native American Studies,Faculty member in Geography & Native American Studies,

The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WashingtonThe Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washingtonhttp://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz

Studying Native History/GeographyStudying Native History/Geography

• Not only about racial conflict, but the Not only about racial conflict, but the colonization of colonization of nationsnations

• Not only about the U.S. government, but the Not only about the U.S. government, but the origins of the United Statesorigins of the United States

• Not only about federal/state policies, but the Not only about federal/state policies, but the land base where they occurland base where they occur

• Not only looks at political/economic, but at Not only looks at political/economic, but at European cultural underpinningsEuropean cultural underpinnings

No “Indians”No “Indians”before 1492before 1492

Diversity in…

Tribes/bands

Languages

Governments

Cultures

Spiritual beliefs

Resource use

Land control

There goes the neighborhood…

American IndianAmerican Indian

or Indianor Indian

Native American Native American

or Nativeor Native

TribalTribal

IndigenousIndigenous

Nation namesNation names

American IndianAmerican Indian

or Indianor Indian

Native American Native American

or Nativeor Native

TribalTribal

IndigenousIndigenous

Nation namesNation names

AboriginalAboriginal

First NationsFirst Nations

4th World4th World

AboriginalAboriginal

First NationsFirst Nations

4th World4th World

AmerindianAmerindian

AutochthonousAutochthonous

AmerindianAmerindian

AutochthonousAutochthonous

Pros & Cons of TermsPros & Cons of TermsPros & Cons of TermsPros & Cons of Terms

Native AmericansNative Americans

• Racial category?(“minority”)

• Ethno-cultural groups

• Economic status

• Groups with a land base

• Autonomous nations

Tribal Diversity Tribal Diversity

CulturalCulturalAreasAreas

Arctic

Subarctic

Northwest Coast

Plateau

Great Basin

California

Plains

Southwest

Southeast

Northeast

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AlgonquianSiouanCaddoanAztec-TanoanAthabascan (Southern)

SalishPenutianHokanKeres

SiouanSiouan

Western U.S.Western U.S.language groups language groups

CaddoanCaddoan

CaddoanCaddoan

SalishSalishAlgonquianAlgonquian

AlgonquianAlgonquian

Aztec-Aztec-TanoanTanoan

AthabascanAthabascan

AthabascanAthabascan

HokanHokan

Aztec-Aztec-TanoanTanoan

Aztec-Aztec-TanoanTanoan

HokanHokan

HokanHokan

PenutianPenutian

PenutianPenutian

Athaba-Athaba-scanscan

KeresKeres

SiouanSiouan

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DenéDené

InuitInuit

InuitInuit

InuitInuit InuitInuit

AlgonquianAlgonquian

AlgonquianAlgonquian

AlgonquianAlgonquian

AlgonquianAlgonquian

IroquoianIroquoian

SiouanSiouan

DenéDenéDenéDené

InuitInuit

CanadaCanadalanguagelanguagegroups groups

Waka-Waka-shanshan

SalishSalish

DenéDenéAlgonquianDené(Athabascan)

InuitSiouanIroquoianSalishWakashan

TsimshianKootenai

NATIONNATION

• LanguageLanguage

• Identity / customsIdentity / customs

• HistoryHistory

• TerritoryTerritory

Ethnic group with a common…Ethnic group with a common…

Treaties recognized tribes as “nations”Treaties recognized tribes as “nations”

Nations have a common…Nations have a common…

• Past in a “homeland”Past in a “homeland”

• Present identificationPresent identification

• Future viabilityFuture viability

STATESTATE

• Authority / power to governAuthority / power to govern

• Outside recognitionOutside recognition

• Defined territory / boundariesDefined territory / boundaries

• A few Native nations have more landA few Native nations have more land

or population than some UN member statesor population than some UN member states

A legal / political entity with …A legal / political entity with …

Native Land Losses Native Land Losses

ReservationsReservations

Percentages by CountyPercentages by County

Native alone in Non-

Metro area43%

Native alone in

Metropolitan Area57%

All Natives in Non-

Metro area34% All natives in

Metropolitan Area66%

Urban PopulationUrban Population

““Pendulum” of Indian policyPendulum” of Indian policy

• Cycles of binary thinking Cycles of binary thinking

(“good” or “bad” Indian)(“good” or “bad” Indian)

• Policy swings betweenPolicy swings between

Autonomy and AssimilationAutonomy and Assimilation

• Policies intended to assimilate Policies intended to assimilate

often backfired on gov’toften backfired on gov’t

Autonomy modelAutonomy model(Self-determination)(Self-determination)

• Cultural Traditions, identity, language protected

• Political Limited self-rule;

“bilateralism” of federal & Indian gov’ts

• Economic Increased self-sufficiency

• Geographic Control/jurisdiction of tribal territory

Assimilation modelAssimilation model (Detribalization)(Detribalization)

• Cultural Loss of traditions; more Christian/”white”

• Political Only U.S. citizenship; under state/counties;

“unilateralism” of federal gov’t

• Economic Dependency; only farmers or workers

• Geographic Tribal loss of control; Private ownership

Era Policy trend Global trend

1880s-1920s: Assimilation Imperialism/racism

1930s-1940s: Autonomy Economic reform

1950s-early 60s: Assimilation Cold War/individualism

1970s-early 90s: Autonomy Civil rights/liberation

Late 1990s-2000s: Assimilation? Anti-multiculturalism

Pendulum of Federal Indian PolicyPendulum of Federal Indian Policy

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• Ancestors lived in America,

before the arrival of Europeans.

• Who is considered to be

an Indian by the community.

• Who self-defines as an Indian.

• Federal court decisions have

shifted definitions over time

Who is an “Indian”?Who is an “Indian”?

• Pushed by federal Bureau

of Indian Affairs (1/4)

• Tribal govt’s set today

(often internalized)

• Intermarriage can

“fractionalize” tribe

Blood QuantumBlood Quantum(% of tribal ancestry)(% of tribal ancestry)

•Native Americans can “appear” white, black, etc.

•Multiracial

tribal nations

-Seminole, Lumbee, etc.

•Mixed categories

-Métis (French),

-Mestizo (Spanish), etc.

Racial Complexities Racial Complexities

Categories Defined by…. What about…

RACIAL Blood Quantum (biology) “Mixed bloods,”

Assimilated

CULTURAL Tribally raised/accepted Adopted Indians,

White ‘wannabes’

GEOGRAPHICAL Reservation residents Urban Indians,

Rez whites

Who is an “Indian”?Who is an “Indian”?

““Racial composition is not always dispositive Racial composition is not always dispositive in determining who are Indians for the in determining who are Indians for the purposes of Indian law. In dealing with purposes of Indian law. In dealing with Indians, the federal government is dealing with Indians, the federal government is dealing with members or descendants of political entities, members or descendants of political entities, that is, Indian tribes, not with persons of a that is, Indian tribes, not with persons of a particular race. Tribal membership as particular race. Tribal membership as determined by the Indian tribe or community determined by the Indian tribe or community itself is often an essential element.”itself is often an essential element.”

— — Handbook of Federal Indian LawHandbook of Federal Indian Law

Top 10 Things to Say to a White Top 10 Things to Say to a White Person Upon First MeetingPerson Upon First Meeting

10. How much white are you?

9. I’m part white myself, you know.

8. I learned all your people’s ways in the Boy Scouts.

7. My great-great-grandmother was a full-blooded white-

American princess.

6. Funny, you don’t look white.

5. Where’s your powdered wig and knickers?

4. Do you live in a covered wagon?

3. What’s the meaning behind the square dance?

2. What’s your feeling about river-boat casinos? Do they

really help your people, or are they just a short-term fix?

1. Oh wow, I really love your hair! Can I touch it?